Work

Exploring risky riding behaviors and road safety outcomes among motorcycle taxi riders in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Motorcycle taxi riders (MTRs) in Dar es Salaam (DSM) face substantial safety challenges, contributing to high rates of crashes, near-crashes (i.e., incidents that almost result in a crash), and traffic violations. This study aimed to explore self-reported risky riding behaviors (i.e., behaviors that can increase the risk of crashes and injuries) among MTRs using an adapted Motorcycle Rider Behavior Questionnaire (MRBQ) and their predictive relationship with road safety outcomes. The underlying factor structure of the adapted MRBQ was identified through principal component analysis (PCA), followed by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), which validated five core behavioral factors: safety equipment, stunts, traffic violations, traffic errors, and distractions.Descriptive analysis revealed that while helmet use was prevalent, the inconsistent adoption of other safety gear highlighted critical gaps in protective practices. Frequent risky behaviors included overloading passengers, using unauthorized lanes, and mobile phone use while riding. Logistic regression analysis revealed that traffic violations and errors were the strongest predictors of crashes, increasing the risk by 35.9% and 32.8%, respectively. Distractions emerged as a significant driver of near-crashes, raising the risk by 37.5%.Although this study did not empirically examine systemic causes of unsafe behaviors, weak enforcement, infrastructural deficiencies, and economic pressures are widely acknowledged as contributing factors. These findings provide actionable insights for improving road safety, including strengthened enforcement, targeted training programs, and affordable safety equipment initiatives to mitigate risky behaviors and reduce crash risks.

Source: Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives

DOI: 10.1016/j.trip.2025.101743

Authors: Katondo Salvatory Nambiza, An Neven, Wilfred Gordian Kazaura, Muhammad Wisal Khattak, Kris Brijs

Institutions: Hasselt University, Ardhi University

Language: English

Topic: Traffic and Road Safety

Subfield: Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Sustainable cities and communities, Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,400